Right Livelihood

RLA

RIGHT LIVELIHOOD AWARD (RLA) - Guide To The Alternative Nobel Prize

The RLA was first established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull. He was a member of the European Parliament (1987-89), and also served on the Political Affairs Committee and the UNESCO Commission on Human Duties and Responsibilities. He established the World Future Council in 2007 and has served on various boards, including Greenpeace, Germany.

His steadfast commitment to the environment, justice, and peace has earned him numerous awards, including the Time Magazine European Hero Award.

Jump straight to our resources on the ➡️ Right Livelihood Award

Right Livelihood | Open Access

The RLA has now celebrated and supported some of the world's most courageous and inspiring people for 46 years. Their award ceremonies are held annually, honouring four new laureates for their commitment to finding practical, innovative solutions to humanity's biggest challenges.

The RLA not only celebrates achievements but also provides long-term support and raises the profile of those who have shown outstanding commitment to peace, sustainability, and social justice.

Better World Info began documenting the incredible RLA journey in 1997. We now feature a well-researched and comprehensive guide with over ➡️ 4,500 links to this excellent prize, the foundation's work, the 203 laureates from 81 countries, and the Right Livelihood College. It is an absolute must-have resource for in-depth insight into their work.

"We amplify changemakers' voices, enhance their protection and provide extended networks for greater impact." - RLA

U.S. Department of State | Public Domain

The Right Livelihood Foundation has built a community of courageous changemakers working for a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world for everyone. They work hard to catalyse urgent and long-term social change, increase the visibility of laureates, and provide vital protection when their lives and freedom are in danger.

In 2006, Ole von Uexkull became the executive director of the Right Livelihood Foundation. He is the nephew of Jakob von Uexkull and holds master's degrees in both Environmental Science and European Studies. He has worked at the German Parliament in Berlin, the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris, and the European Parliament in Brussels.

"We have to be more than just an award; we have to keep supporting the ones who have received the award." - Ole von Uexkull

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Highlights From 2026

The awards for the 2026 laureates were honoured at the annual award presentation, which took place in Stockholm on December 1 in front of an international gathering of peers and patrons.

• Jalila Haider (Pakistan) Human Rights Attorney & Political Activist - “For breaking barriers, as the first female lawyer from her Hazara community, to challenge ethnic, state and patriarchal persecution, guided by the conviction that no human being is illegal”.
• Rural Women’s Assembly (Southern Africa) Guardians of Land, Life & Love - “For organising rural women across Southern Africa into a united force defending land, seed and bodily autonomy against corporate and patriarchal dispossession”.
• Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) Georgia’s Oldest & Most Prominent Human Rights Organisation - “For building and safeguarding Georgian democracy and sustaining civic power in the face of an autocratic crackdown”.

• Timnit Gebru (U.S.A.) Pioneering AI researcher - “For challenging concentrated power in artificial intelligence and pioneering digital technology rooted in justice, lived experience and human agency.”

TechCrunch | CC BY 2.0

The Alternative Nobel Prize

The Right Livelihood Award is widely recognised as the world's premier award for personal courage and social change and is commonly referred to as the alternative Nobel Prize. Criticisms of the Nobel Peace Prize have been growing louder, especially since the 2025 award was given to ➡️ María Corina Machado.

This was, without a doubt, a politically motivated decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. While many of Machado's actions may be laudable, the prize ignores the fact that Venezuela's economy is crushed by U.S. sanctions and her blatant support for U.S. imperialism. She even went on to dedicate her award to President Trump for his backing of regime change in Venezuela.

Experts argue that the Nobel Peace Prize has all too frequently deviated from Nobel's original criteria to reward those dedicated to disarmament, demilitarisation, peace negotiations, mediation, peace journalism, and conflict resolution. As of 2021, only 33 recipients qualify under Nobel's founding principles in its 120 years.

The award's prestige has been lost the further it has drifted from its support for peace. Other criticisms include political influence, increasing Eurocentricity, and sexism. By 2021, of the 975 Nobel Prizes awarded, only 59 were awarded to women.

The Right Livelihood Award covers the areas often overlooked by traditional Nobel Prizes, such as environmental protection, human rights, and sustainable development. It is free from political sway and awards boots-on-the-ground activists and grassroots organisations, rather than globally recognised figures and big names on the international stage.

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Better World Info's dedicated encyclopaedia of the Right Livelihood Award highlights the well-deserving work of all Right Livelihood laureates, helping them continue to raise awareness of their causes and expand their reach to the wider public.

Explore their innovative solutions to issues such as climate change, indigenous rights, the energy transition, nuclear disarmament, women's rights, press freedom, corruption, and much more.

"This award is a new weapon to strengthen the fight of our people." - Davi Kopenawa

Author: Rachael Mellor, 18.02.26, latest update 28.10.26, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0